2019 Draft Prospects To Keep An Eye On

[beachcomber]

think that's borderline rhetoric/talking in irresponsible generalities when making a seemingly blanket statement that teams have to play ketchup w/us.

would prefer if we focus our forward motion on the likes of KC, NE and others of that ilk, who obviously caused us some problems/headaches and we were anything but proverbial faves after mere minutes into the game.

Donnell Greene looks like he's got a longterm engagement on an NFL Oline in his future.

and can we pls move Feeney (back) to RG.

and agree that the aforementioned threesome can use some competition on the Oline, and.... wouldn't want to understate our vulnerability in terms of the health of Russ/Mike.

[Boltjolt]

Gil Brandt just put out his top 150. Very interesting where some players are. For instance, I never heard of #34 on the list who is an EDGE rusher.


https://amp.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...3EAEAEA&sr=amp

[like54ninjas]

Gil Brandt just put out his top 150. Very interesting where some players are. For instance, I never heard of #34 on the list who is an EDGE rusher.


https://amp.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...3EAEAEA&sr=amp

LJ Collier had a productive Senior year, has +athleticism, and had a STRONG Senior Bowl week. I have him more as a top 75 with the size to be a 3tech.

[wu-dai clan]

LJ Collier had a productive Senior year, has +athleticism, and had a STRONG Senior Bowl week. I have him more as a top 75 with the size to be a 3tech.

I almost agree with Gil.
Just took him for Bengals @ 42.
Could not find Oline value there.

Actually, I like LJ Collier @ #60 !

[Boltjolt]

I almost agree with Gil.
Just took him for Bengals @ 42.
Could not find Oline value there.

Actually, I like LJ Collier @ #60 !

He has some surprises on his list. Mack Wilson at 78. The first safety on his list is at 39 which is Abrams. Little is at 66 ...alot lower than Zierline lol. And THR who have him at 33. But I know be has questions. Just needs to be coached up some.

[like54ninjas]

There always are some surprise picks near the bottom of the first round of the NFL draft, and there's a sense inside the league the 2019 edition could have more than usual. Below you'll find four prospects who aren't exactly mock draft darlings, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll be waiting very long to be selected. In fact, NFL executives, scouts and coaches tell me they wouldn't be shocked to hear the following names called in Round 1 on Thursday, April 25.

NOTE: Click on each draft prospect's name for a full scouting report. Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State


Drafting Howard in the first round would be, in the words of one NFC executive, "really ballsy." But the upside is tantalizing on a high school quarterback who arrived at an HBCU as a tight end, then converted to offensive line, where he's still putting on weight and learning the finer points of the position.

• LATEST ANALYSIS
  ▶ DJ mock: Packers pick QB
  ▶ How Wilson's contract got done
  ▶ How many QBs will go on Day 1?
  ▶ Which Cowboy will get paid next?
  ▶ Top 19 games of 2019
  ▶ Ideal top two picks for every team
  ▶ Brandt: Ranking top 150 prospects

Howard showed well in his two opportunities against top-level competition, last season against Auburn and at the Senior Bowl in January. He has the traits to play the premium left tackle spot, in a year when not many of those guys are near the top of draft boards. Some feel Howard could play right tackle or guard, as well.

"Great kid. Smart and can pick things up. Good worker," an NFC scout said. "Can get his pads a little high at times. Good strength to drive defenders off the ball. Needs to clean up his technique and finish. Has all the size and athletic tools to get better."

The number of teams giving Howard extra attention is one reason there's growing talk in draft rooms that someone might take a chance early. By draft day, Howard will have visited and/or had a private workout with 24 franchises, including the Redskins, Rams and Jets this week, a source said, with the Jaguars planning to send a contingent to see him once Howard returns to campus. Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia


Several scouts and executives said Round 1 is too rich for them here. But Thornhill has a lot going for him: length, coverage ability, versatility. His Wonderlic test score improved dramatically from last spring to the NFL Scouting Combine, once he'd actually prepared for it. "And he's got picks -- ball production," an AFC executive said of Thornhill, who had 13 interceptions at UVA (including six this past season) while bouncing between cornerback and safety.

A high school basketball star, Thornhill put up the type of numbers at the combine -- a 4.42 40-yard dash, 44-inch vertical jump, 11-foot-9 broad jump and 21 bench reps at 6-foot, 205 pounds -- that make talent evaluators take a second look at the tape. One AFC scout compared it to the 2015 combine performance of Byron Jones, another versatile DB the Cowboys took at No. 27 overall.

"You didn't quite see that (speed) on film, and same with those testing numbers. (Thornhill) doesn't stand out in terms of athleticism," the scout said. "But he is productive."

Safety is another scarce position at the top of this draft, with Mississippi State's Johnathan Abramlikely the first one off the board and then a lot of question marks. Maryland's Darnell Savage could go higher than expected, too. Chris Lindstrom, OG, Boston College






His name hasn't been discussed as much as the draft's other top linemen, but teams will be surprised at this point if Lindstrom doesn't go in the first round -- perhaps even in the top 20, thanks to his athletic ability, smarts and versatility. He helped himself with a solid Senior Bowl week. Some believe he can play center, too.

"He's one of those guys that it's not a sexy pick, but he'll end up playing eight to 10 years and just be a steady, good pro," an NFC personnel director said.

There was a run on interior offensive linemen in the back half of Round 1 a year ago and the same thing may well happen here, with N.C. State center Garrett Bradbury, Texas A&M center Erik McCoyand maybe even Mississippi State's Elgton Jenkins in the mix, as well. Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State


At minimum, Simmons will start his rookie season on reserve/PUP, and many teams believe he'll be a medical redshirt for 2019 after tearing his ACL during training in mid-February. Simmons told me at Mississippi State's pro day that he also suffered what he called a minor meniscus tear, which doctors repaired -- a procedure that can complicate recovery and delay the normal six- to nine-month timetable. Some teams have concerns about how quickly Simmons was off crutches and traveling around on visits barely a month after reconstruction surgery.

There also is the matter of a graphic video showing Simmons repeatedly punching a woman as he intervened in a March 2016 fight between the woman and Simmons' sister. That incident led to an arrest, legal consequences and a one-game suspension his freshman year. It's sure to bring scrutiny locally on whatever NFL team brings Simmons into its community, too.

Having said all that, every executive and scout I've spoken to says the background on Simmons is otherwise immaculate. Members of the current and former Mississippi State coaching staffs call him a culture changer. He won academic and community service awards. If he were healthy and totally clean off the field, Simmons' talent and makeup would have him squarely in the top-10 conversation.





"I've yet to find one person that can say bad things about him," an NFC scout said, echoing what many others have voiced in recent months. "If there is, then we're all fooled. Not everybody deserves a second chance, but he got one and he's done a nice job with it."

The prospect of missing an entire season usually causes a player to drop a round in the draft. One executive pointed to linebacker Jaylon Smith falling to the Cowboys at No. 34 in 2016, though Smith's nerve issue was a far more serious and unpredictable injury. If an organization with historically higher risk tolerance and extra draft capital (e.g., the Raiders) sees a chance to get a bargain on an impact player for 2020 and beyond, what's to stop the team from taking a shot on Simmons?

"Before the injury, I think he would've gone top-20, even with the incident," a college scouting director said. "Now, I think he still goes (in Round 1), just because people are going to run out of first-round guys they've got a real conviction on."

Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero.

[Formula 21]

Looking for a big boy in the middle to occupy blockers. Heres a Day 3 guy with the potential to be trained up. OLIVE SAGAPOLU

IDL, Wisconsin

• CONF Big Ten
• JERSEY #99
• CLASS Senior
• HT 6'2''
• DOB N/A
• WT 338 lbs

ANALYST'S REPORTS

TDN

Hand Technique/Length - Has shown a nifty little arm over and rip counter to keep hands off of his chest. Lacks length, which stands out when tasked with trying to extend and shuck blockers at the point of attack. Lack of length also prevents a clean stun punch.

Competitive Toughness - Spends too many plays getting turned out at the point of attack. Is effective in occupying blockers but doesn't have a consistent track record of holding ground at the point of attack and can get pushed off of the line of scrimmage to concede running creases.

Two Gap Ability - Big body must be accounted for in blocking designs, has been a big piece of the success of teammates on the second level. Raw size can be problematic due to second effort push. Will need further focus in anchoring vs. double teams to maximize value.

Gap Penetration Skills - Is a bit top heavy, which results in difficulty collecting balance when contacted laterally as a gap shooter. Has just enough in the hands to stave off a late challenge and continue to press forward towards the mesh point. Can be a challenge if given a few steps to build momentum.

Tackling - Limited length is compensated for by range and closing burst as an uncovered defender scraping along the line of scrimmage. Will pancake ball carriers if able to get chest and hips in front of tackle challenges. Won't bring many ball carriers down with stationary arm tackle challenges, though.

Flexibility - Has terrific mobility throughout such a large frame, has ability to pivot and unlock the hips in tight spaces to get width and transition into pursuit. That said, leverage is an issue and needs to be better hinging at the knees and hips to stay under the pads of blockers.

Pass Rush Counters - Has the capability to generate a fair amount of force in short spaces to bull rush blockers. Will force some false punches with tight swim move on the inside and has good short area quickness for size. Limited repertoire if first charge is negated, however.

First Step Quickness - Does not present an athletic mismatch for interior blockers. Can at times be late to release out of stance and as a result will get caught unprepared to shoot a gap. Will shine when pulling off of blocks laterally to transition into pursuit, however.

Feet/Change Of Direction - Nimble footed "dancing bear" on the interior. Has plenty of balance when pivoting and changing directions to play with grace and control. Skill in this area is made with acknowledgement that abilities are impressive *for his size*, not necessarily relative to his peers regardless of profile.

Versatility - Flashes enough winning ability in penetration reps to warrant consideration for development into an every down defender in the long run, however needs to perfect power elements of his game to establish a clear identity as a player before anything else.

---

BEST TRAIT - Two Gap Ability

WORST TRAIT - Length

BEST FILM - Miami FL (2017)

WORST FILM - Western Kentucky (2018)

RED FLAGS - 2018 arm surgery (missed end of season)

Olive Sagapolu has potential to be a productive run stuffer on the defensive interior, although his lapses in pad level, leverage and a limited ability to extend to stack blocks are all notable stumbling blocks that need to be accounted for. Sagapolu has some pleasant flashes of hand technique to discard blocks but his lack of length will largely limit him to an occupation defender, where his teammates will be uncovered to pursue the football freely.

[beachcomber]

3T Johnny Robinson/Charleston Southern

http://draftanalyst.com/under-radar-small-school-prospects-defense

[like54ninjas]

3T Johnny Robinson/Charleston Southern

http://draftanalyst.com/under-radar-small-school-prospects-defense

Interesting bc. Thanks for the heads up.




Johnny Robinson
Defensive tackle
SCHOOL: CHARLESTON SOUTHERN | CONFERENCE: D-IAA
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-0.2 / 292 | 40: 5.06 | DRAFT YR:2019 Rankings

GRADE
3.17
PROJECTED ROUND
FA
Pos:
Short, explosive defensive tackle with an underrated game. Fires off the snap, plays with terrific pad level and naturally gets leverage on opponents. Keeps his feet moving, plays hard and easily changes direction in pursuit of the play. Rarely off his feet, very effective with his hands and gives tremendous effort. Flash strength in his lower body and bull rushes opponents of the line. Consistently focused on by opponents in the middle of the line.
Neg:
Lacks height and bulk and gets engulfed at the point. Marginal pass rusher.
Analysis:
Robinson is a natural three-technique tackle based on his height, quickness and ability to move in any direction of the field. He may not be drafted, but he could surprise this season as a free agent.

[like54ninjas]

3T Johnny Robinson/Charleston Southern

http://draftanalyst.com/under-radar-small-school-prospects-defense

Under-The-Radar Small-School Prospects - Defense



Tony Pauline

Draft Analyst Writer
Share
In Part 2 of this series, we'll move to the defensive side of the ball to break down some of the top small-school prospects people are barely talking about. And like the 2019 NFL Draft as a whole, the players on this side of the ball have a decided advantage.

Rickey Neal/Edge/Northern Iowa: Neal is a player I've admired on film the past two years, and he was mentioned as a Week 12 Riser. He's a terrific pass rusher who accumulated 29.5 tackles for loss as well as 17.5 sacks the past two seasons. An explosive athlete who shows terrific speed off the edge as well as in pursuit, Neal turned in a solid pro day by timing 4.75 seconds in the 40 and 7.29 seconds in the three-cone. Primarily lining up at defensive end in college, his 6-foot-1, 235-pound frame will likely stand over tackle at the next level. Neal is getting a lot of interest from the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders.

Johnny Robinson/DT/Charleston Southern: If you're looking for a three-technique tackle from the small-school ranks, Robinson is your man. He's an explosive lineman who shoots the gaps to make plays in the backfield, chases the action laterally and runs down ball carriers in pursuit. He turned in some eye-popping marks at his pro day, including a 40 time of 5.08 seconds with a 1.68 second ten-yard split, a vertical jump of 35 inches and 28 reps on the bench press. Robinson is high on the list for the Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Bucs and Los Angeles Chargers.

Kaden Elliss/OLB/Idaho: Elliss has turned in a lot of "wow" moments over the past year and a half. The son of former NFL All-Pro Luther Elliss has combined for 130 tackles, 31 tackles for loss and 13 sacks the past two years. During his extra time on the field, he's lined up at tight end for the Vandals. Elliss participated in two pro days, one at Idaho and one at Utah, and turned heads at both. His marks from the workouts included 4.65 seconds in the 40 with a 1.63 ten-yard split, 34.5 inches in the vertical jump and 10 feet in the broad jump. His shuttle times were off the charts and included 4.13 seconds in the short shuttle, 11.14 seconds in the 60-yard shuttle and 6.63 seconds in the three-cone. Those marks ranked with some of the better combine performances by the defensive backs. Elliss has had nine official predraft visits including the Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins. His schedule has been so busy there was no room to fit the New York Jets, who wanted to bring Elliss in for a visit. His on-field production, off-field visits around the league and pro-day marks mean one thing: look for Elliss to get drafted on Day 3.

Stephen Denmark/CB/Valdosta State: Denmark is another who lit up his pro day. Measuring 6024 and 220 pounds, he timed 4.46 seconds in the 40, posted a vertical jump of 43.5 inches and a broad jump of 10-foot-10. At Valdosta State last year, he intercepted three passes and totaled 55 tackles. He made official visits to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns and worked out privately for the New Orleans Saints

[Xenos]

There always are some surprise picks near the bottom of the first round of the NFL draft, and there's a sense inside the league the 2019 edition could have more than usual. Below you'll find four prospects who aren't exactly mock draft darlings, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll be waiting very long to be selected. In fact, NFL executives, scouts and coaches tell me they wouldn't be shocked to hear the following names called in Round 1 on Thursday, April 25.

NOTE: Click on each draft prospect's name for a full scouting report. Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State


Drafting Howard in the first round would be, in the words of one NFC executive, "really ballsy." But the upside is tantalizing on a high school quarterback who arrived at an HBCU as a tight end, then converted to offensive line, where he's still putting on weight and learning the finer points of the position.

• LATEST ANALYSIS
  ▶ DJ mock: Packers pick QB
  ▶ How Wilson's contract got done
  ▶ How many QBs will go on Day 1?
  ▶ Which Cowboy will get paid next?
  ▶ Top 19 games of 2019
  ▶ Ideal top two picks for every team
  ▶ Brandt: Ranking top 150 prospects

Howard showed well in his two opportunities against top-level competition, last season against Auburn and at the Senior Bowl in January. He has the traits to play the premium left tackle spot, in a year when not many of those guys are near the top of draft boards. Some feel Howard could play right tackle or guard, as well.

"Great kid. Smart and can pick things up. Good worker," an NFC scout said. "Can get his pads a little high at times. Good strength to drive defenders off the ball. Needs to clean up his technique and finish. Has all the size and athletic tools to get better."

The number of teams giving Howard extra attention is one reason there's growing talk in draft rooms that someone might take a chance early. By draft day, Howard will have visited and/or had a private workout with 24 franchises, including the Redskins, Rams and Jets this week, a source said, with the Jaguars planning to send a contingent to see him once Howard returns to campus. Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia


Several scouts and executives said Round 1 is too rich for them here. But Thornhill has a lot going for him: length, coverage ability, versatility. His Wonderlic test score improved dramatically from last spring to the NFL Scouting Combine, once he'd actually prepared for it. "And he's got picks -- ball production," an AFC executive said of Thornhill, who had 13 interceptions at UVA (including six this past season) while bouncing between cornerback and safety.

A high school basketball star, Thornhill put up the type of numbers at the combine -- a 4.42 40-yard dash, 44-inch vertical jump, 11-foot-9 broad jump and 21 bench reps at 6-foot, 205 pounds -- that make talent evaluators take a second look at the tape. One AFC scout compared it to the 2015 combine performance of Byron Jones, another versatile DB the Cowboys took at No. 27 overall.

"You didn't quite see that (speed) on film, and same with those testing numbers. (Thornhill) doesn't stand out in terms of athleticism," the scout said. "But he is productive."

Safety is another scarce position at the top of this draft, with Mississippi State's Johnathan Abramlikely the first one off the board and then a lot of question marks. Maryland's Darnell Savage could go higher than expected, too. Chris Lindstrom, OG, Boston College






His name hasn't been discussed as much as the draft's other top linemen, but teams will be surprised at this point if Lindstrom doesn't go in the first round -- perhaps even in the top 20, thanks to his athletic ability, smarts and versatility. He helped himself with a solid Senior Bowl week. Some believe he can play center, too.

"He's one of those guys that it's not a sexy pick, but he'll end up playing eight to 10 years and just be a steady, good pro," an NFC personnel director said.

There was a run on interior offensive linemen in the back half of Round 1 a year ago and the same thing may well happen here, with N.C. State center Garrett Bradbury, Texas A&M center Erik McCoyand maybe even Mississippi State's Elgton Jenkins in the mix, as well. Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State


At minimum, Simmons will start his rookie season on reserve/PUP, and many teams believe he'll be a medical redshirt for 2019 after tearing his ACL during training in mid-February. Simmons told me at Mississippi State's pro day that he also suffered what he called a minor meniscus tear, which doctors repaired -- a procedure that can complicate recovery and delay the normal six- to nine-month timetable. Some teams have concerns about how quickly Simmons was off crutches and traveling around on visits barely a month after reconstruction surgery.

There also is the matter of a graphic video showing Simmons repeatedly punching a woman as he intervened in a March 2016 fight between the woman and Simmons' sister. That incident led to an arrest, legal consequences and a one-game suspension his freshman year. It's sure to bring scrutiny locally on whatever NFL team brings Simmons into its community, too.

Having said all that, every executive and scout I've spoken to says the background on Simmons is otherwise immaculate. Members of the current and former Mississippi State coaching staffs call him a culture changer. He won academic and community service awards. If he were healthy and totally clean off the field, Simmons' talent and makeup would have him squarely in the top-10 conversation.





"I've yet to find one person that can say bad things about him," an NFC scout said, echoing what many others have voiced in recent months. "If there is, then we're all fooled. Not everybody deserves a second chance, but he got one and he's done a nice job with it."

The prospect of missing an entire season usually causes a player to drop a round in the draft. One executive pointed to linebacker Jaylon Smith falling to the Cowboys at No. 34 in 2016, though Smith's nerve issue was a far more serious and unpredictable injury. If an organization with historically higher risk tolerance and extra draft capital (e.g., the Raiders) sees a chance to get a bargain on an impact player for 2020 and beyond, what's to stop the team from taking a shot on Simmons?

"Before the injury, I think he would've gone top-20, even with the incident," a college scouting director said. "Now, I think he still goes (in Round 1), just because people are going to run out of first-round guys they've got a real conviction on."

Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero.

I believe Dan Brugler has us picking him up in the 2nd.

Los Angeles Chargers
1 28 FS Nasir Adderley
2 60 OT Tytus Howard
3 91 DL Anthony Nelson
4 130 OG Tyler Jones
5 166 CB Mark Fields
6 200 WR DaMarkus Lodge
7 242 QB Jacob Dolegala

[beachcomber]

wonder if Greg Gaines could end up being John Parellaesque/good for us ??

http://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2019/4/19/18508011/los-angeles-chargers-burr-kirven-lodge-daley-gaines-huskies-gamecocks